Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fans unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m/7:30 a.m. daily)

Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fans unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m/7:30 a.m. daily)

Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fans unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m/7:30 a.m. daily)

Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fans unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m/7:30 a.m. daily)

Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fans unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m/7:30 a.m. daily)

Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fans unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m/7:30 a.m. daily)

Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fans unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m/7:30 a.m. daily)

Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fans unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m/7:30 a.m. daily)

Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fans unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m/7:30 a.m. daily)

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The Redskins haven’t signed the splashiest free agents or made the type of trades that shock and awe, but they continue to make savvy moves and get younger. The weekend trade of defensive end Vonnie Holliday to the Cardinals in exchange for Tim Hightower in another move in a highly tactical offseason.

Hightower was born in Santa Ana, Calif., but grew up in Alexandria, Va., attending Episcopal High School. After attending the University of Richmond, he was on the radar of many Redskins fans, who wanted him and join forces with Clinton Portis. Now he’s on his way back to the East Coast.

Hightower has pretty much everything that you look for in a running back for any offense: ability to run outside or between the tackles, ability to catch out of the backfield, and a great threat in the redzone. He also has playoff and Super Bowl experience, and only earned a ticket out of Arizona because of depth.

At 35, Holliday can still be a contributor on defense, but isn’t likely to start 16 games in a season. With the addition of Stephen Bowen and Barry Cofield (to join Anthony Bryant, Jarvis Jenkins and Adam Carriker), Holliday became expendable.

Hightower is 25 and hasn’t been used heavily in his NFL career. He has an issue with ball security, fumbling five times in each of the last two seasons, but should benefit from the tutelage of running backs guru Bobby Turner.

I don’t mean to discount the contributions that Holliday made to the team in only one season. He had 42 tackles and 2.5 sacks, but his real presence was felt in the lockerroom and as a team representative on the NFL CBA negotiations.

One fan at Saturday’s practice yelled out his thanks to Holliday for single-handedly solving the NFL lockout. Holliday laughed the guy off, but his influence is certainly felt league-wide.

This is a move with a lot of upside with a young, hungry running back. Because of Holliday’s age and the team’s depth at his position, this is not a move that the team is likely to regret.

10 Responses
to “Welcome Home, Tim Hightower”

Here’s to hoping that the Redskins can do better than 6-10 this year! I’m a Redskins fan thru and thru living in Philly suburbs. I really like what they’ve done so far this off-season. I’m just skeptical of any sort of true success due to the EXTREMELY shortened off-season.

Hightower averaged 4.8 yds per carry last year and started 13 games while appearing in 13. This move likely spells doom for picks such as Royster. Keiland Williams will have to learn him some special teams quick or he’s out. Torain, Hightower, Helu, Jr, and Royster maybe?

Could be. I think Mike Sellers at TE and H-Back gives them some more leverage to keep a Darrel Young or Keiland Williams as a fullback. Royster looks good in drills. Lots of moving parts right now, it will probably come down to game action in the preseason

I like the hightower move but we really need to jump on tatupu, he was cut but seattle and if we pick him up the linebackers could be orapko tatupu fletcher and kerrigan. that souds complete. Please jump on the asap.

I think he’s anticipated to be a factor in the running game, and at worst just depth. This is a call-out to all of the backs on the roster, and Shanahan said specifically that he’ll compete with Torain as the top guy. More on this to as it develops, but he’s not in town until this afternoon. We’ll see if he takes the field this afternoon.

I’m not sure who’s job would be in jeopardy there? The advantage would always go to the guys who play the position best, so this may be something that resolves itself as camp wears on. I’ll keep you informed :-)

The Real Robinson Report-Interview with Tim Hightower
A couple weeks before the Lockout was lifted we sat down with Tim Hightower and
talked about his plans for the upcoming season. The NFC Champ says he’s ready to take his team to the Super Bowl this season.